Winter Studio Rituals

Above: Kerry Cline has put this commissioned painting on hold while recovering from her broken wrist so in the meantime is stretching some silk instead.

As the colder months settle across the region, many artists find their studio rhythms shifting too. Winter can bring a quieter pace, fewer deadlines and exhibitions, and more space for reflection — although for some, it also means stepping away from the studio altogether. What emerged from conversations with Network artists was not so much a season of hibernation, but one of recalibration: a time for learning, reassessing, experimenting and quietly gathering momentum for what comes next.

For some artists, winter becomes a season of study and creative nourishment. Ann Cook has been immersing herself in advanced classes with artist Ingrid Boot at Estuary Arts Centre, finding renewed inspiration not only through technical learning, but through the camaraderie of creating alongside other artists. A recent two-day colour workshop focused entirely on colour studies and charts rather than finished works — a reminder that artistic growth often happens in quieter, less visible ways. Reflecting on work begun over summer has also prompted thoughtful editing and refinement. “Less is more,” she says of future exhibiting plans, after the confidence boost of having her work warmly received by wider audiences this year.

Winter can also become the season where artists turn their attention to the less visible but equally important work that supports a creative practice. Hillary Austin says the colder months are often when she focuses on funding applications, future planning and sustaining projects connected to the Foundation Gallery & Arts Hub and the Barefoot Artists teaching programme. Alongside creative work comes the ongoing challenge of administration, marketing and maintaining a public presence — tasks that many artists admit do not come naturally. Keeping websites updated, posting regularly to Instagram and Facebook, applying for funding and ensuring work remains visible can feel daunting, yet these quieter months often provide the space to tackle the behind-the-scenes work that keeps creative projects moving forward.

That quieter season also gives many artists permission to revisit ideas that have patiently waited in the background. Sandy Smith describes returning to concepts that never quite fit within the demands of larger projects and deadlines. “Right now, I’m drawn to the idea of making a kaleidoscope — an exploration of light and patterns,” she says. Winter, it seems, can offer the uninterrupted space needed for curiosity and experimentation to resurface.

Others are embracing the season as a time for reflection rather than production. Derek Ventling shared a passage from Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being, reflecting on patience as an essential part of creativity. The quote resonated strongly with this in-between season: the understanding that creative development cannot always be hurried, and that periods of apparent stillness are often quietly productive in ways that only become visible later.

Above: Tawharanui by Philippa Stichbury - An aerial-inspired Tawharanui commissioned work from MAST2026 created from photographs taken above Mahurangi Harbour. Below: Going above and beyond to capture the image for the Tawharanui commission and hiring a plane to get photos of Mahurangi.

For some, winter creativity happens away from a formal studio altogether. Fee Blankley admits that without a permanent studio space, transporting materials and setting up elsewhere can make beginning difficult. Yet even amid practical limitations, the intention to create remains alive, waiting for the right time and space to expand later in the year. Likewise, Jill Dingle laughs about her “monster of clutter” studio — a spare room shared with a piano, bookshelves, easels, painting bins and family life. But beneath the chaos lies a strong sense of renewed energy. New canvases wait expectantly, workshops and plein air sessions continue, and with works now hanging publicly for the first time, she describes feeling encouraged by the support of the artist community around her.

Winter also changes the landscape physically for many artists. Some seek warmth elsewhere, gathering inspiration far from home before returning to the studio refreshed. Sally Thrush has been spending time in Perth visiting family, surrounded by turquoise waters, cloudless skies and unfamiliar flora and fauna. Time with grandchildren and immersion in a different environment, she says, helps revitalize her creative energy in preparation for future exhibitions and next year’s studio trail.

Others continue steadily through commissions and ongoing projects, adapting to whatever the season brings. Kerry Cline has temporarily shifted focus to painting silk while recovering from a broken wrist, with larger canvas commissions paused for now. Philippa Stichbury recently completed a commission celebrating a couple’s 40th wedding anniversary, using aerial photographs captured during a flight over the Mahurangi Harbour to create a richly textured painting of Tawharanui — a work shaped by both memory and place.

For many artists, winter becomes less about output and more about taking stock. There are fewer immediate pressures, fewer looming deadlines, and more room to ask deeper questions about direction and purpose. As Karena de Pont reflects, winter is often the season to ponder whether the urge for change is simply restlessness or the beginning of a genuine new direction. Yet over time she has also come to trust the process more deeply. Time in the studio, even without a clear destination, is never wasted. The old creative adage that “working begets work” feels especially true at this time of year.

Perhaps that is the quiet gift of winter for artists. Beneath the slower pace, ideas are still forming. Skills are being sharpened. Confidence is quietly rebuilding. New directions are beginning to surface. Even in the stillness, creative life continues to gather strength for the seasons ahead.